Growing Pains VS Family Matters VS The Big Bang Theory - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Neutronman67 · 09-11-2013, 01:42 PM

The Big Bang Theory is the only show worth watching on TV its an ok show, Growing Pains was another classic 80's show the theme song was great and had a jazz kinda theme to it, Family Matters was an annoying show but i just did not watch the show for steve urkel carl eddy and waldo made the show funny at times, which sitcom would you say you like the best Growing Pains, Family Matters, or The Big Bang Theory ???

MacLeaper · 09-11-2013, 01:54 PM

I like "Growing Pains" and "Family Matters" and "The Big Bang Theory". However, the former two are WAY cleaner (generally) than the latter. That one has unfortunately delved into some vulgar material at times, but it's generally one of the cleaner and better shows on TV today. (And it's quite funy.) So I'd probably rank the two shows from '80s and '90s as ones I like a bit better than the most recent one.

Mace Dolex · 09-11-2013, 07:50 PM

I'm probably one of the few child from the 80's that never watched Growing Pains, never cared for it, it seemed like the show centered around Kirk Cameron and his tired teenage schtick.

Family Matters is the equivalent of Gilligan's Island, good for a few laughs but GI is better.

TBBT is funny, not exactly a laugh riot but a lot better than the current crap out there.

70s show watcher · 09-11-2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

I'm probably one of the few child from the 80's that never watched Growing Pains, never cared for it, it seemed like the show centered around Kirk Cameron and his tired teenage schtick.

Family Matters is the equivalent of Gilligan's Island, good for a few laughs but GI is better.

TBBT is funny, not exactly a laugh riot but a lot better than the current crap out there.

i was a teen in the 80s and never liked growing pains ether the show as a whole just didnt appel to me

MacLeaper · 09-12-2013, 06:24 PM

"Growing Pains" is one of my all time favorite shows- I love the theme song and the characters are just funny. But I certainly understand that even in the '80s not everyone dug the show- that's cool. This is why I don't like to get too much into the comparison thing- I try to look for the good in things and generally find something to like about many shows (though certainly there are many I don't like, usually for content reasons regarding vulgarity, sexual immorality, etc.)
But of course, everyone has their likes and dislikes- and that's a good thing. Everyone doesn't have to like the same thing.

Neutronman67 · 09-17-2013, 12:21 PM

Growing pains is a classic show most people think its a ripp-off of Family Ties because both families had similar personalities lol

MacLeaper · 09-24-2013, 06:07 PM

I don't see that "Growing Pains" and "Family Ties" are all that similar.
The whole gist of "Family Ties" was looking at how liberal parents, former flower children from the '60s, deal with their "rebellious" children, most of whom are conservative. (Jennifer does hold to more of her parents' ideals, but most of the kids- certainly Alex most of all- were generally more conservative.) It was turning the sitcom stereotype on its head.

"Growing Pains" had a family dynamic that was a bit turned around as well, with the mother going back to work as a newspaper reporter- but Dr. Seaver wasn't playing "Mr. Mom"- He worked at home as a psychiatrist. The Seavers also lived on Long Island in New York, whereas the Keatons lived in Columbus, Ohio. Steve Keaton worked as a broadcast journalist for a PBS station whereas Elyse worked as an architect.
Alex was a conservative Republican obsessed with making money and working in business. Mike Seaver was quite the opposite, instead being a slacker looking for nothing but a good time and willing to bend the rules with scams and such. (If I were to compare him to any Michael J. Fox character, it'd be Marty McFly more so than Alex P. Keaton.)
However, Carol would be a closer comparison to Alex, as far as being concerned about academics and doing well with it- she can have a bit of Alex's smugness and ego at times- but she's nowhere near his level of arrogance. And certainly she's not nearly at the same level of being obssessed with making money and voting Republican.
(Though I would say the Seavers are probably fairly conservative to a degree- though they also have some liberal values too.)
Ben plays the role of the youngest kid well for a while, until Chrissy comes along. And yes- we have a similar comparison with Jennifer and Andy. However, I still think they all are distinct in their characters too.
In any case, while I can concede some similarities, I don't think "Growing Pains" is a ripoff of "Family Ties". I just think both are good, fun shows and I love watching them.

Tubehead · 09-25-2013, 12:02 AM

my pick family ties beats all of them never could get into growing pain i heard it was rip off from family ties i watched family matters for while then the later episode's gotten stupid i got family matters one thur three
on dvd i plan on buying all of them

09-11-2013, 01:42 PM	#1
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	Growing Pains VS Family Matters VS The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory is the only show worth watching on TV its an ok show, Growing Pains was another classic 80's show the theme song was great and had a jazz kinda theme to it, Family Matters was an annoying show but i just did not watch the show for steve urkel carl eddy and waldo made the show funny at times, which sitcom would you say you like the best Growing Pains, Family Matters, or The Big Bang Theory ???

09-11-2013, 01:54 PM	#2
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	I like "Growing Pains" and "Family Matters" and "The Big Bang Theory". However, the former two are WAY cleaner (generally) than the latter. That one has unfortunately delved into some vulgar material at times, but it's generally one of the cleaner and better shows on TV today. (And it's quite funy.) So I'd probably rank the two shows from '80s and '90s as ones I like a bit better than the most recent one.
	__________________ "Oh boy!" - Dr. Sam Beckett "You can do anything you wanna do if you put your mind to it." - MacGyver "Have mercy!" - Uncle Jesse "Ha, I kill me!" - ALF "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to The Father but by Me."- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

09-25-2013, 12:02 AM	#8
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	my pick family ties my pick family ties beats all of them never could get into growing pain i heard it was rip off from family ties i watched family matters for while then the later episode's gotten stupid i got family matters one thur three on dvd i plan on buying all of them

09-11-2013, 07:50 PM	#3
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,666	I'm probably one of the few child from the 80's that never watched Growing Pains, never cared for it, it seemed like the show centered around Kirk Cameron and his tired teenage schtick. Family Matters is the equivalent of Gilligan's Island, good for a few laughs but GI is better. TBBT is funny, not exactly a laugh riot but a lot better than the current crap out there.

09-12-2013, 06:24 PM	#5
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	"Growing Pains" is one of my all time favorite shows- I love the theme song and the characters are just funny. But I certainly understand that even in the '80s not everyone dug the show- that's cool. This is why I don't like to get too much into the comparison thing- I try to look for the good in things and generally find something to like about many shows (though certainly there are many I don't like, usually for content reasons regarding vulgarity, sexual immorality, etc.) But of course, everyone has their likes and dislikes- and that's a good thing. Everyone doesn't have to like the same thing.

09-17-2013, 12:21 PM	#6
Neutronman67 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 23, 2013 Location: Sarasota Posts: 2,538	Growing pains is a classic show most people think its a ripp-off of Family Ties because both families had similar personalities lol

09-24-2013, 06:07 PM	#7
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	I don't see that "Growing Pains" and "Family Ties" are all that similar. The whole gist of "Family Ties" was looking at how liberal parents, former flower children from the '60s, deal with their "rebellious" children, most of whom are conservative. (Jennifer does hold to more of her parents' ideals, but most of the kids- certainly Alex most of all- were generally more conservative.) It was turning the sitcom stereotype on its head. "Growing Pains" had a family dynamic that was a bit turned around as well, with the mother going back to work as a newspaper reporter- but Dr. Seaver wasn't playing "Mr. Mom"- He worked at home as a psychiatrist. The Seavers also lived on Long Island in New York, whereas the Keatons lived in Columbus, Ohio. Steve Keaton worked as a broadcast journalist for a PBS station whereas Elyse worked as an architect. Alex was a conservative Republican obsessed with making money and working in business. Mike Seaver was quite the opposite, instead being a slacker looking for nothing but a good time and willing to bend the rules with scams and such. (If I were to compare him to any Michael J. Fox character, it'd be Marty McFly more so than Alex P. Keaton.) However, Carol would be a closer comparison to Alex, as far as being concerned about academics and doing well with it- she can have a bit of Alex's smugness and ego at times- but she's nowhere near his level of arrogance. And certainly she's not nearly at the same level of being obssessed with making money and voting Republican. (Though I would say the Seavers are probably fairly conservative to a degree- though they also have some liberal values too.) Ben plays the role of the youngest kid well for a while, until Chrissy comes along. And yes- we have a similar comparison with Jennifer and Andy. However, I still think they all are distinct in their characters too. In any case, while I can concede some similarities, I don't think "Growing Pains" is a ripoff of "Family Ties". I just think both are good, fun shows and I love watching them.